Automobile hoist



Jan. 14, 1964 e. A. WALLACE 3,117,552

AUTOMOBILE HOIST Filed Sept. 30, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 14, 1964 G. A. WALLACE ,6

AUTOMOBILE HOIST Filed Sept. 30, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 14, 1964 G. A. WALLACE AUTOMOBILE HOIST 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 30, 1960 Jan. 14, 1964 e. A. WALLACE 3,117,652

AUTOMOBILE HOIST Filed Sept. :50, 1960 a Sheets-Sheet 4 7 64 29 70- H VE z m I T 0 "WI a 1 I 3| Ill" Q I E 1 k I 5 m Jan. 14, 1964 G. A. WALLACE 3,117,652

AUTOMOBILE HOIST Filed Sept. 30, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet s Jan. 14, 1964 e. A. WALLACE AUTOMOBILE HOIST 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 30, 1960 Jan. 14, 1964 e. A. WALLACE 3,117,652

AUTOMOBILE HOIST Filed Sept. 30, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 United States Patent 3,117,652 AU'EQMOBHJE HOlST George A. Wallace, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to The Globe rloist Company, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 59,636 15 Claims. (Cl. 187-859) This invention relates to a frame engaging automobile hoist, and is more particularly relates to such a hoist which provides substantially complete accessibility to all under-car parts.

Most automobile hoists of the type used in service stations obstruct at least part of the underside of the car which they are supporting. This is not a serious problem in ordinary service station work, but in certain repair work, such as transmission and mufiler work, and undercoating application wide open accessibility to all portions of the underside of an automobile is highly desirable. However, it is quite difdcult to lift an automobile without obstructing portions of its underside even when it is lifted by the frame in the currently prevalent manner.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical hoist for lifting an automobile by the frame with a minimum or obstruction of its underside.

object is to provide such a hoist which is simpie to install and operate and requires a minimum of adapters for engagement with all types of automobiles.

in accordance with this invention, a pair of individual cross beams are mounted to slide back and forth across two vertically movable longitudinally spaced beams which are substantially longer than any automobile to be handied and spaced apart rom each other a distance sufficient to clear the outsides of the wheels of an automobile which is driven between them when they are resting at ground level. Pick-up elements are mounted upon the cross beams for engaging the frame of an automobile from below when they are positioned under the front and rear of the frame. When these pick-up means are engagcd just inside the front and rear bumper brackets and the automobile lifted by raising the longitudinal beams, substan ally entire underside of the automobile is left clear for access. Furthermore, spotting and positioning of adapters is simply accomplished by driving the automobile between the grounded longitudinal and Cross beams, the cross beams are then slid into position under the front and rear ends of the car just inside of the bumper brackets. The pick-up means may be adjustable and hinged to facilitate engagement and dropping out of the way of an automobile in drivin into and out of engagement with the hoist. Furthermore, the rear cross beam may include one portion of a ramp which cooperates with a correspo ing portion upon an end beam con ecting the longitudinal beams to provide a bridge for driving an automobile over the rear cross beams when it is moved adjacent the rear end beam. The cross beams also be mounted upon resilient carriages which facilitate their movement.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to sim'lar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspecti e view of one embodhnent of this invention;

Phil. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the frame of an automobile shown in phantom in position for hoistir FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4- is a view of one of the pick-up adapters shown in FIGS. l-3;

IG. 5 is a view in elevation of the adapter shown in l6. 6 is an end view of the adapter shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 mounted upon a cross bean;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 4 along the line 77;

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation of the adapter shown in PEG. 6 in its downwardly folded condition;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the adapter shown in FIGS. 4-6 a swiveled condition;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a rear cross beam of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. ll is a plan view of the manner in which one of the cross beams of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the longitudinal beam;

FIG. 12 is a view in elevation of the part shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an end view of t 1e portion shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective View of some of the parts shown in FIGS. l1l3;

FlG. 15 is a plan view of another embodiment of tiis invention;

FIG. 16 is a view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FF". 15;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of still another embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 18 is a view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17.

in PEG. 1 is shown an automobile hoist Ill including a pair of verti ally movable longitudinal beams 12 which are spaced apart from each other a distance sufiicient to permit the wheels of an automobile to be driven between them. Beams 12 are, for example, spaced and held parallel to each other by front end beam 14 and rear end beam 16 which form toget er with beams 12 a substantially rectangular frame 18. Frame 33 is guided in its vertical movement by rings 2% connected to the ends of end beams Ed and which engage four vertical columns 22. A lifting means 24 for raising frame 18 includes, for example, an electric motor 26 mounted upon one of columns 22 and connected through a geared transmission 23 to turn torque tube 39 which is rotatably mounted between frout columns 232. A pair of drums 32 are mounted at the ends of torque tube 3 and cables 34 are wound about drums The ends of cables 34 are connected to the front and rear ends of frame 13 by direct connection from drum 32 to the front ends of frame 18 and indirect connection to the rear ends of frame 1% over pulleys 35 mounted at the top of rear columns 22. Rotation of drums 32 in the clockwise direction winds cables 34 up upon them to raise frame 18, and rotation in the counterclockwise direction unwinds cables 34 to lower frame 18. The horizontal runs of cables 34 are shielded by frames 35 connected to horizontal bars 37 extending between each set of front and rear posts 22.

A front cross beam 33 and a rear cross beam 40 are independently connected across longitudinal beams '12 by movable means which are, for example, constructed as resiliently mounted carriages 42 later described in detail. A pair of pickup assemblies 44 are mounted upon each of cross beams 33 and 4-0 for engagement under an automobile. These pick-up assemblies 44 are connecte to slide back and forth across cross beams 38 and 4% for example, by sliding engagement of their mounting shoes 46 upon the upper flanges of cross beams 38 and 44} in a manner later described in detail. Jacks 48 at the upper portions of pickup assemblies 44 are rotatably and telescopically mounted as is later described in detail to facilitate their engagement with an automobile frame, and they are also hinged to shoes 46 to permit them to be dropped out of the way of an automobile in a manner later described in detail.

A bridge 59 for driving an automobile over rear end beam 16 to a position between longitudinal beams 12 and also between cross beams 38 and as is, for example,.provided by rear and front ramp sections 52 and 54 respectively attached to rear and front edges of rear end beam 16- and movable cross beam 49. When rear end beam 16 and cross beam 41} are moved together as shown in N68. 15 and 17, they form a bridge 50 over which the front and rear Wheels of an automobile may be driven toposition it for engagement at front and rear of its frame by pickup adapters 44.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 the frame 56 of an automobile is shown in phantom as it is en aged by pickup adapters 44- prior-to lift'mg. Positioning ofadapters .4 is readily accomplished by moving crossbeams 38 and 40 just under the front and rear ends of the car and engaging jacks 48 of adapters 44 withthe frame Edjust inside the front and rear bumper brackets. The mode of engagement of the jacks is described inthe following in conjunction with FIGS. 49, and FIG. 10 illustrates rear cross beam 40 which includes two cutout sections SS-Which permit rear adapters-44to be removed from cross beam 449 to prevent interference with under portions of a low-slung car as it is being driven over rear cross beam 49.

This hoist therefore, permits an automobile to be lifted with, wideopen accessibility to its under portion. Operations which requires such accessibility may accordingly be. accomplished .with complete freedom. Transmissions and mufllers may be easily replaced and undercoating performed without. requiring any special auxiliary jacks or hoists which saves considerable time in each operation. Theonly auxiliary adapter which thishoist requires for all ofthe wide variety of existing types and sizes of automobilesis a light channel which is dripped across the tworfront jacks to lift thefront end of 1951-55 Chevrolets by straddling. the sway bar. Otherwise, this hoist as shown, lifts any automobile and-permits any operation upon the undersideto be performed without any auxiliary jacks, stands or othermake-shift devices which transmission and muflier replacement usually require.

Details of adjustable.pickup-adapters id-are shown in FIGS. 4-9. The. upper or jack portions 8 of adapters 44 are rotatably mounted upon. vertically disposed headed pins 6% which are secured. to the upper portion of tubes 62.;by connection tocollars ddsecured within tubes'62, for example, by weldingh The lower ends of pins 60 are secured to collarsnd, for. example, by threaded engagement and tack. welding. Sufiicient clearance is provided between the head 66 of pins 6% and the top of tube 62 to permit free rotation of U-shaped jack 48 as indicated in PEG. 9.

Jack'48 togetherwith tube 62-may be vertically adjusted with respect to thetubular base or pedestal 68 of adapter 44 .bysliding insertion within it. Tube 62 may be held at oneof several vertical heights with respect to pedestal 68 by-engagementof the nose-of pawl '74) within one .ofseveral notches 72 provided'within the side of tube 62. Pawl '70 is resiliently urged into engagement with notches 72 by a torsionspring 74 which is mounted above shaft 76rupon which pawl 7-is also mounted by extension 78. Torsionspring 74 reacts between a stationary portion of bracketSll supporting shaft 76 and the underside of pawl 70 tourge itinto engagementwith notches '72 thereby holding tube62 at a selected vertical'height; The

inclinednose S2 of pawlill permits the'edges of notches 72 to-divert pawl 78 out of engagement when tube-62 is manually raised,,and.the straight upper surface 84 of pawl 'Wlocks under the uppersurface of each of notches 72 to hold the adapter in the-adjusted position.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate .themanner in which pedestal 58 of-adapter 44-is secured througha-hinge 86 to a shoe 88 which hooks about the upperllange of cross beams 38 :and 4t .and permits adapter 44 to be slid transversely back and forthalong cross beams 38 and 4%. Angular plate 92 to which pedestal 68 is welded is attached to one portion of hinge $6, and sliding shoe 8% is welded to the other portion of hinge 86 to permit adapter 44 to be rotated downwardly out of the way of a low-slung automobile when this is necessary to facilitate its movement over cross beams 38hr dll'as shown in FIG. 8. It is also possible to remove adapter jack 44* from rear cross beam it? by disengagement through slots 58 as shown in FIG. 10.

FIGS. ll-l4- show details of resiliently mounted carriages z2'which movably connect the ends of'cross beams 38 and 4% with longitudinal beams 12. Carriages 4-2 each include a saddle 94 which is rolled back and forth along longitudinal beams 12' by engagement of rollers upon inverted V-shaped tracks $3 welded to the upper flange 1% of longitudinal beams 12. A horizontal flange 102 is welded to saddle 94-onboth-sides of the lower portion of a T-sh'aped aperture 164- extending through saddle 94. Stiifening plates'llln are Welded to the sides of lower portion of aperture 104 for stiffening and guiding purposes.

The ends of cross beams 33 and 4% which are reinforced by vertical plates llld attached to both sides of the web of beams 38 r and 49, are inserted through aperture 104 which-islarge enough to permit a substantially vertical movement between the upp'er flange 1% and the lower flange 11% of longitudinal beams 12. A pair of horizontal lugs :12am welded to the upper ends of beams 33 and 4G to overlie plates 102 of saddle 94. Coil springs 114 are mounted between lugs 112 and supporting plates ltl2'by nutand'bolt assemblies 116 thereby resiliently supporting the ends of beams 38 and 4llupon saddles 94'.

In the position shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, springs 114* maintain cross beams 33 and 44 out of contact with beams 12 thereby permitting carriages 42 to freely roll beams 3'8 backward and'forward to'position them. However,

when a load such as an automobile is imposed upon beams 33 and dtL-it compresses springs-114 enough to move the lower end surface 118 of beams 33an'cl4ll into contact with the upper surface 120 of lower flange of beam' 12- to permit'the load to be rigidly supported. Furthermore, cont-act between end 118 and surface'ItZt? prevents any subsequent-forward or backward movement of beams 38 and 49. This movement in the absence of load is also facilitated by rollers122 shown in' FIG. 13 attached to saddles 94 in position to bear upon the vertical web 124 of beams 12.

In FIGS. 15 and 16 is shown a hoist lllA which is another embodiment of this invention. Hoist 16A is similar to hoist It) in all respects with the exception of the lifting means 24A being provided by a pair of hydraulic lift cylinder-and piston assembliesll3llA connected centrally to'beams 12A: This form of installation eliminates the necessity for any overhead superstructure if this is desirable'for any reason. The assembled condition of bridge ShA provided by ramps 52A and 54A respectively connected to end rear beam 16A and rear cross beam 40A is shown in FlG. 16. Operation of hoist 19A in all respects with the exception-of the lefting mechanism is identical to that previously described.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 is shown a modification 36B of hoist NA in which cylinder and piston assemblies 13933 are connected centrally to front and rear end beams 14B and 163 instead of to longitudinal beams 12B. Hoist 153B provides freedom of access under longitudinal beams 52B when it is raised whereas hoist 163A provides freedom of motion under end beams 14A and 16A when hoist 10A is raised.

What is claimed is:

1. An automobile hoist comprising a pair of vertically movable longitudinally disposed'beams which are substantially longer than an automobile and spaced apart from each other a distance sufficient to permit an automobile to be driven between them with said beams disposed along the outsides of the wheels of said automobile, a pair of individual cross beams means disposed transversely across said longitudinal beams, movable means separately connecting said cross beams to move along substantially the entire length of said longitudinal beams to permit said cross beams to be independently positioned in back and in front of and under the extreme front and rear portions of said frame of automobile, pickup elements adjustably attached to said cross beams for engaging the extreme front and rear portions of said frame of said automobile from below, lifting means connected to said longitudinal eams for raising them together with an automobile supported between them upon said cross beams, carriage means connecting the ends of said cross beams to said longitudinal beams fo cilitating their forward and backward movement, res ent means supporting said cross beams in a free floating fashion from said carriage mews, and the ends of said carriage means overlying a supporting portion of said longitudinal beams to permit said supporting portion to carry any load imposed upon said cross beams when it is sufficient to overcome the supporting effect of said resilient means.

2. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal beams are disposed parallel to each other, and said movable means comprises slidable connecting means which permit said cross beams to slide back and forth between said longitudinal beams.

3. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 2 wherein end beams connect the forward and rear ends of said longitudinal beams to constitute a substantially rectangular frame, and said cross beams slide back and forth between said end beams.

4. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pickup elements comprise a pair of adapters mounted to slide transversely along both of said cross beams, and said adapters being adjustable in height for engaging them with said frame of said automobile.

5. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 4 wherein said adapters are telescopic.

6. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 4 wherein a hinged carriage connects said adapters to said cross beams to permit said adapters to be dropped out of the way of the lower portion of an automobile.

7. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said cross beams is notched to permit disengagement of said pick-up elements and removal.

8. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carriage means includes rollers, and a track being mounted upon an upper surface of said longitudinal beams which is engaged by said rollers.

9. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 8 wherein said track comprises an inverted V-section, and said rollers are correspondin ly notched to ride upon the top of sad V-section.

10. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises lifting posts, an electric motor speed reducing transmission, pulley means and cable means.

11. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 10 Wherein said lifting posts comprise four vertical columns disposed adjacent the front and rear ends of said longitudinal beams, connecting means couple the ends of said longitudinal beams to slide up and down about said columns, and said pulleys react between a stationary portion of said hoist and said longitudinal beams over the upper portion of said columns through said pulley means for lifting said longitudinal beams.

12. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises hydraulic piston and cylinder means reacting upwardly against said longitudinal beams.

13. An automobile hoist as set forth in clairn 12 where in said hydraulic piston and cylinder means comprises a pair or" transversely disposed pistons and cylinders reacting directly against said longitudinal beams.

14. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 12 Wherein front and rear end beams connect the forward and rear ends of said longitudinal beams, said hydraulic piston and cylinder means comprise a pair of hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies, one of said piston and cylinder assemblies reacting upwardly against said front end beam, the other of said piston and cylinder assemblies reacting upwardly against said rear end beam, and said connection of said front and rear end beams to said longitudinal beams providing said lifting means for raising them.

15. An automobile hoist as set forth in claim 1 wherein front and rear end beams connect the ends of said longitudinal beams, an outside ramp element being connected to a portion of said rear beam disposed outside of said longitudinal beams, said cross beam adjacent said rear end beam being designated as a rear cross beam, and a corresponding inside ramp element being attached to the front of said rear cross beam for forming a bridge in co operation with said outside ramp section when said rear cross beam is disposed adjacent said rear end beam which permits the wheels of an automobile to pass over said rear end and cross beams.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,915,024 Logette et al. July 28, 1930 1,958,026 Walker May 8, 1934 1,990,242 Mizer Feb. 5, 1935 2,057,335 Hott Oct. 13, 1936 2,124,726 Blum July 26, 1938 2,136,750 Myers Nov. 15, 1938 2,158,399 Carter May 16, 1939 2,309,123 Kiesling Jan. 26, 1943 2,349,389 Thompson May 23, 1944 2,511,316 Cody June 13, 1950 2,593,635 Walker Apr. 22, 1952 2,612,355 Thompson Sept. 30, 1952 2,624,546 Haumerson Jan. 6, 1953 2,654,444 Cochin Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N01. 3,117,652 January 14 1964 George A. Wallace It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 3, line 34, for "dripped" read dropped column 4, line 57 for "lefting" read lifting =1,

Signed and sealed this 30th day of June 19641 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W; SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER iiesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN AUTOMOBILE HOIST COMPRISING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED BEAMS WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY LONGER THAN AN AUTOMOBILE AND SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT AN AUTOMOBILE TO BE DRIVEN BETWEEN THEM WITH SAID BEAMS DISPOSED ALONG THE OUTSIDES OF THE WHEELS OF SAID AUTOMOBILE, A PAIR OF INDIVIDUAL CROSS BEAMS MEANS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID LONGITUDINAL BEAMS, MOVABLE MEANS SEPARATELY CONNECTING SAID CROSS BEAMS TO MOVE ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID LONGITUDINAL BEAMS TO PERMIT SAID CROSS BEAMS TO BE INDEPENDENTLY POSITIONED IN BACK AND IN FRONT OF AND UNDER THE EXTREME FRONT AND REAR PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME OF AUTOMOBILE, PICKUP ELEMENTS ADJUSTABLY ATTACHED TO SAID CROSS BEAMS FOR ENGAGING THE EXTREME FRONT AND REAR PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME OF SAID AUTOMOBILE FROM BELOW, LIFTING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LONGITUDINAL BEAMS FOR RAISING THEM TOGETHER WITH AN AUTOMOBILE SUPPORTED BETWEEN THEM UPON SAID CROSS BEAMS, CARRIAGE MEANS CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID CROSS BEAMS TO SAID LONGITUDINAL BEAMS FOR FACILITATING THEIR FORWARD AND BACKWARD MOVEMENT, RESILIENT MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CROSS BEAMS IN A FREE FLOATING FASHION FROM SAID CARRIAGE MEANS, AND THE ENDS OF SAID CARRIAGE MEANS OVERLYING A SUPPORTING PORTION OF SAID LONGITUDINAL BEAMS TO PERMIT SAID SUPPORTING PORTION TO CARRY ANY LOAD IMPOSED UPON SAID CROSS BEAMS WHEN IT IS SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE SUPPORTING EFFECT OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS. 